Crystal's One Night of Love

In the cloak of the night, nestled in the narrow alley, stood an age-worn dwelling.

Henry’s gaze was fixated on his younger sister, who he had doted on for many years. He examined her attire, plain to the point of austerity, and the crumbling structure that served as her shelter.

His eyes throbbed with a sting that could not be suppressed, and the fingers that clutched his cigarette trembled subtly.

Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, he stepped inside the place and scanned around. “Where’s the kid?”

Melora was taken aback. “Has Crystal told you?”

Henry responded in a helpless tone, “Do you expect her to help you keep it a secret and watch as you continue living in this squalor? Whose child is it?”

Up until that moment, he was truly oblivious to the identity of the child’s father.

Melora wouldn’t let him in the room.

Henry extinguished his cigarette, exhaling the last puff of smoke. “Who is it?”

No matter who the father was, he wanted to beat him up so badly and break his teeth.

Melora blocked the door, pleading in a hushed voice, “Berthold and I are doing fine. Henry, I can support him on my own. Please don’t ask anymore!”

Henry’s eyes reddened.

He was but half a step away from her. With an outstretched arm, he pulled her to the side and entered the room.

The bedroom was of meager proportion, not even covering ten square meters.

An aged bed and a tiny desk housing several dozen magazines was all it contained.

Henry flicked through the trashy magazines, all showcasing Melora on the cover, the young lady of the Miller family.

He swallowed hard, making his way toward the old bed.

On it, lay a small child, slumbering peacefully.

His skin was fair, and he had a full head of dark brown hair.

Henry’s eyes turned bloodshot at the familiar eyes and unique hair color.

He no longer needed to ask Melora who the father was, as there was no need to do so anymore!

Henry whirled around, his eyes burning holes into his little sister.

Melora’s lips quivered, and her face contorted in distress as she pleaded, “Henry, don’t look for him! Don’t… I’ve broken up with him.”

Henry reached out, tenderly touching the little boy.

He paused and asked gently, “Him? Which him? Melora, tell me.”

Melora covered her mouth in shock.

It dawned on her that Henry must have realized who the father was.

Henry’s voice was dangerously low as he said, “When did you two become a thing? Do you understand what you’re doing? He’s at least ten years older than you. A man of his stature, in his forties and still unmarried, has had his share of meeting women from all walks of life, so why would he be attracted to a greenhorn like you?”

Melora was crushed.

She knew she had been punching above her weight.

Henry didn’t ask anymore. He took off his coat, put it on little Berthold, and gently lifted.

“Henry!” Melora clutched his arm, begging.

In the dim light, Henry’s expression was as calm as still water. “Either you come home with me now, or I call Alfred to pick you and your son up. You decide.”

Melora had no choice.

She packed some clothes and followed Henry.

descended the stairs,

a hint of fear

his head, assuring gently, “I am your uncle. Your mommy

relaxed, closing his

the little boy into the child seat in his car,

murmuring, “Could you not tell Mom and

“You’re afraid now?”

front of the car and got in. He was infuriated and

silence, he

later, the car slowly pulled into

to disturb Crystal for she had her own worries. The sound of the opening. and closing of the door stirred her awake. She slipped on her robe

Henry holding Berthold, with Melora

froze for

in a hushed tone. “Let Berthold sleep

Crystal nodded.

again, she

nestled in his arms, Henry entered, gingerly tucking the tiny boy into the warm bed where Crystal had

the day had been too long, for the child drifted off

cracking open into slits before she rolled over, pulling Berthold close to her

chiseled, were strikingly

heart soften

Skyler’s head and patted Berthold. “This child takes after his

taken aback, wore her guilt

in a tender voice. “You must have figured

more

let the children hear you. We’ll

shot her a fierce glare, but times

once frightened now wore an armor of courage. “Don’t take your anger out on me,” she warned him boldly as she exited the room. “I had nothing to do with

tense look on

grasped her hand. “Stay with Melora. I’ll head to

Crystal agreed

them, grievances yet addressed. Yet, when faced with the situations at home, they instinctively leaned on

to do? After all, I

brother’s Let’s freshen up first. Let me prepare some snacks for you-

Crystal was about to

wave of emotion washed

Melora’s hand, she reassured, “You should have come back sooner. Your

in a soft

something for us to eat. You take a bath first. Everything you need is

Melora nodded.

to prepare the snack. By the time everything was ready,

the kind where the vibrant colors were nearly washed

Crystal noticed.

a tremble in her voice, “Come and eat. Everything

down and began to

before, she was silent, no longer the chatterbox who couldn’t stop talking like a print machine on

simply kept her

eyes were filled with tears. “Crystal, I’m scared. He couldn’t marry me back then, and now…

she

had single-handedly raised their child, living a tough life worrying about

had shared good times together. However, they were swept away by the winds of time just like fleeting

the newspaper. He was still the dignified and

youthful radiance. Moreover, the

Crystal said, “Your brother will, after all, need to vent his anger. But he would

girl nodded

in, Crystal went to see

the study. The room was dim,

was

closed the door behind her, walked to

murmured, “You’re smoking too much! Aren’t you afraid of

her

night, as Crystal voluntarily approached him, sat on his lap, and tenderly embraced

out the cigarette

long while before he finally spoke in a hoarse whisper, “Crystal, have I failed? If I hadn’t insisted on going to Kingdom of Brundela back then, your uncle and Melora may not have had the chance to get together. Those days Alfred spent in the hospital